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I am firmly committed to NEVER seeking out allocated products. There are plenty of readily available bourbons and I enjoy enough that allocated products are not ever on my radar. I refuse to pay more than MSRP for any product. I can't deny that allocated products are outstanding but I have had Stagg Jr , Old Fitzgerald and others and, while they are good, I'm not paying their ridiculous prices for them. I cap out at about $60 because there are SO many products under that price point that I enjoy. The good news is that you will never have to compete with me for one of those products.
I was really lucky and managed to show up at a store that was selling Stagg 22b for $60. I arrived just 30 min after they were put on the shelf. Bought 2 bottles and have zero regrets.
I watch everything you guys do. It would be great if you would put a list of the bottles you review along with the Heading/Topic somewhere so we can print it out and take to to the store with us. I have pages of notes from your shows but this would be so much better. Thanks for considering this.
I purchased a Widow Jane Decadence based upon this channel's recommendation and LOVED it. In fact, I loved it so much that it's gone! Next time I get one, I won't share it so generously. LOL.
I would urge you to also try Widow Jane Lucky 13, their 13 year old bourbon. I work at a whiskey bar and Lucky 13 is leaps and bounds ahead of Decadence for me!
I guess having 1 out of 10 is a start for me😂. Can't wait to see the ones to pass on, but this would be an incredible lineup for anyone coming down for a drink! Cheers and keep up the great videos.
I only have two, and they are both hitters! (Stagg and Sagamore 8yr). I've had a Still Austin bottle before and it was good, didn't really care for the Russell's 13 I tried. Had a russells single barrel store pick that I thought was better.
Bomberger's 2022 declaration is my absolute favorite bottle. I've tried a ton of bottles but no BTAC or Pappy's yet but Bomberger's crushes everything else I've tried. That butterscotch note is just unmatched.
Steer clear of those stores that jack up the price?? That's basically ALL THE STORES. Greed is ugly and it's a prerequisite to owning a liquor store. At least in Louisville it is.
I will now be hunting the widow jane this fall and redwood empire. As a side note my buddy called me Monday from Delaware regarding a bottle of Stagg at $450. Kindly told him he needed to leave the store and not to purchase anything from them.
stagg I see in a few stores for like $299 or $399! smh Buddy of mine walked into Binny's last week and got there last bottle for retail!! like $65 that's what i'm waiting for!
I'd love to get a Penelope Rio. Saw 2 at a local store but was selling for over 300.00. Another I tend to grab is Blantons SB and ER. Love your show guys keep it up
Glad to see the inclusion of the Sagamore Spirits 8-year rye with those bottles. The 8-year has been one of my favorite bottles this year, but it might be topped by the Jack Daniels single barrel barrel proof rye. Both delicious!
When it was $50, it was worth the chase. Now at $140-$150, I wouldn’t go chasing it too hard. I got mine at $142 retail and I’m not sure it’s worth that price. If you’ve never had it and see it in the wild at retail, definitely pick it up, but wouldn’t put it at the “top” of the list
Those are great prices compared to what I just saw on line $499. These prices are crazy. 10 year is good enough for me at $50 and it should be $35 I got EHT for $70 thought it was great price seeing it upwards of $150, MSRP is $45, still feel ripped off. @@micntr
I love shows like this. I've been collecting for a while, and am finally at the point where I need to start deciding if I'm going to re-buy bottles that I've tried.
From MN here, i work for a distributor up here and help stock total wines and recently saw a couple drops of the bombergers and shenks. Was really curious to try it but i could not justify a price of $135-$150
Hi guys, fairly new to the channel and enjoying it. Can I make a suggestion? Before you sign off, could you simply touch each bottle and say the price so we can jot it down. Especially when you have 10 bottles on the bar.
Have you guys tried Boone county 1833? This is one of the first bourbons I tried, that got me into bourbon. Bought it at the distillery, now I can’t get. What bourbon would be close to it, a good replacement. It had notes of honey, caramel, and a long nut finish.
I will pay 250 300 for stagg because it's not only impossible in my state to find but surrounding states that's the lowest price and is the only way to get it if you can find it lower or have the time to travel like that great but not everyone can bur may really want to try it
Great video again. Redwood has great stuff. I'm probably a sucker but I still grab each Booker's release as used to drink with my Dad so holds a sentimental value. Given KC9 has been way better than many recent releases (IMHO) for one third the price I may reconsider.
Please read the entire label and include small batch or limited release etc. especially for example Four Roses as they have so many different labels. Also please give locations of distilleries etc as this is helpful. Name cities and states at least.
I'll have to try the bottled in bond Redwood...I have the regular Pipedream and I was not a fan at all, added a couple drops of water and it made it a little better but I won't be buying it again
I like that you talk about some brands/varieties that aren't so mainstream. There have to be some really good bourbons, ryes, whiskeys out there from smaller and/or regional distilleries.
Great list fellas! I'm in one of those states where allocated products are often insanely inflated, plus we have horrid tax (Being a bourbon hound in WA is rough!) Of the list, Stagg is the one I've had the most success getting, but frequently I consider a bottle at 150 (after all taxes) acceptable just because I have never been let down by a bottle and I make them last. For reference, WA state has taxes at all three levels is the distribution chain, then we as the customer pay a liter tax ($3 currently) plus 20.5% sales tax on liquor. I recently got my first bottle of Bombergers and man, it might be the best bottle I've had this year, it has the most fantastic blackberry jam note to me, especially on the nose! Then you get all the wonderful flavor bits from Michter's oak and traditional bourbon goodness.
Depending on where you live, paying that might be your only option. That's understandable. I paid 200 for my first couple bottles, now I am scoring them for under 100 consistently. But I am in the TN/KY area. Be patient now that you have one and see if you can get your next ones cheaper. For what its worth to you, 22B has been my favorite batch recently, and I would grade it as comparable to GTS and WLW. Outstanding juice!
What's crazy is that people pay $300+ for Stagg. Once you have tried Stagg you quickly realize it is not worth secondary. A few bottles are worth a good markup but Stagg is just a good high proof bourbon $60-65. Paying multiples of MSRP is just silly - it's not that good. The latest ECHP and even Larceny BP batches are comparable... if not BETTER than the recent Stagg batches. I'll take a Larceny B523 at $60 over a $150 Stagg 23a every day of the week. I think people are confused and think Stagg is hyper aged or something special. The juice is generally 6-8 years in a Stagg as compared to a ECBP B523 that is 11+ years and age stated.
Still Austin is the best Texas Whiskey period. Cask Strength and the Red Corn Bourbon BIB are fantastic. I just found and picked up a Single Barrel Store Pick a few days ago. I have Stagg batches 15, 18, 22B, 2 bottles of 22A and 2 bottles of 23A. Will pick them up anytime I find them for a reasonable price. Love the new New Riff Heirloom Corn Bourbons…Blue Clarage and Yellow Leaming. 🥃
I have never seen a single one of those on a shelf, for any price. For me, I don't know if there is anything that I wouldn't pass on, until 3 months ago, I would have said ECBP, but I passed on B523 for McKenna 10yr and Larcent BP B523, I got both for 10 dollars more than the ECBP. The ECBP might be better than both, but not by enough to justify passing up on both of them. I actually prefer McKenna 10yr to ECBP anyway, so it was a no-brainer for me.
One thing that surprises me is the absence of ECBP. I'll pick up any ECBP at MSRP, especially a Private Barrel. 1792 FP under $50? Absolutely. Rebel 10? Same. I also pick up any Eagle Rare at MSRP to keep a couple bottles in stock for the dry times, or as presents.
@slbdrinks, my unicorn bottle is Old Fitzgerald. I am a big Heaven Hill fan and think the decanter bottle is cool- one would be the crown jewel of my bourbon collection. I have seen one bottle for sale in New England- for $955! Obviously I passed. But like you said in this video, avoid the stores that upcharge that much. How much is a reasonable price to you for a decanter of Old Fitz? Thanks for the great video, love all your content!
I got my first Stagg recently for $58 (Total Wine in KY). It's still $50 here in NC, but I've never been able to find one here. I'd like to get a RR 13.
This year's FRLESB is open now for lottery draw entry and is $199 MSRP. Not bad in this market unfortunately considering its 35% 12 year, 40% 14 year, 20% 16 year, and 5% 25 year.
I am unfortunately a resident of northern NJ. I have been on my Bourbon Journey for 15 years now. Over the past few years the Bourbon sections of even the biggest stores have shrunk by 2/3. I used to be able to find Stagg Jr. for around $50 but now, if even available, it is $300. I was mulling over the Redwood Empire BIB the other day but couldn't pull the trigger @ $110 when I can still find some great BIBs in the $20-$30 range and the amazing Barrell releases can be found on sale for around $70.
Solid lineup. I buy the same except for the New Riff as I will always gladly accept a pour from friend but it just never hits me as a great and JD since I hate the old #7. I know I have to try Jack's newer stuff. Buddy sent me samples of the JD 10 & 12 as well as a barrel proof but have not brought myself to try them yet (such is the dislike for #7 lol ). This drop I skipped RR13. Got batch 3 four months ago at $70 and 6 weeks ago was batch 4 at $99 just more hype than value for batch 5 at $150. Love the RR13 but not over $110. Very fortunate to have a great store owner, He blinded batch 2-5 for select customers (very fortunate and appreciative to be included) for most of us they tasted very similar and but batch 5 was unanimous in coming in last place. I would pay $200 all day long for batch 1 but it is now getting more of the Buffalo Trace hype than the juice is worth. Was hard to walk away (he had cases) as the collector gene kicked in but did not buy. Glad I have other bottles but unless the bourbon goes back to batch 1 or the price goes down there is better stuff out there. RRSiB store pick will equal or beat RR13. Would make a nice video doing a blind of RR13 vs RRSiB , RRSiB store pick and for gags n giggles RR10. As always great show, thanks guys
I like your show however I'm going to stop watching videos that have allocated bottles featured because I'll never get them. And I'm not being critical of you or your content its just a fact. I'm not proceeding pay the ridiculous prices and I'm not a camper so even if allocated bottles show up I'll never see them. Hence why I don't need to know about them. Enjoy!!
Great video idea! If we are talking NON “shelf appeal” and for things I truly enjoy sipping on, I would say (1) any Jack Daniels limited release; (2) Frey Ranch single barrels; (3) Smoke Wagon; (4) higher aged Calumet Farm or Sam Houston; (5) Knob Creek; (6) if I ever see a Cream of Kentucky 11.5, 12.3, or 13 year from 2019-2021; (7) Stagg Jr; (8) Russell’s 13 (never got one but tried it many times when I can get pours for a reasonable price); (9) ECBP; (10) Larceny BP.
Last Russel's 13 I had I was honestly disappointed by for it's price point, the single barrel Russel's have been much better in my opinion at half the price MSRP.
Some things I would personally add: K.Luke BS Riverset Rye CS Thirteenth Colony (most) Four Roses SBBS (better than LE) Old Forester SBBS B&R Michters 10 B&R Dark Door Lucky 7 Proprietor 14/15
Still looking for the four roses and stagg bottles you have here....and if any cask strength Elijah Craig or 1792 bottles ever appear in Ontario Canada I will grab one!
Most the stories in our state mark up like Stagg around two hundred to three hundred and you won’t find it for msrp so if you want one, you have to fork over. Never seen russels 13 on a shelf … not sure we have that exact redwood - maybe just monarch and one other. Great video though. Difficult to acquire though!
It's rare that I'll overpay for bottles. The only exceptions I've made have been JD12yr for 140 awhile back. Last week I paid 129 each for Stagg 22a and EHT straight rye. I don't feel bad about that, as it's way less than other places I've seen them, if I see those bottles at all. I got the Shenks recently for 89, because of a mistake, it was supposed to be 99 and the Bombergers was 119. Great picks overall here. Redwood Empire is one of my favorites. I can't get New Riff in Arizona though.
I am not familiar with a lot of these. I would for sure grab the Stagg, New Riff, Four Roses limited edition, and JD products mostly because I am really familiar with those distilleries. I would also more than likely grab the RR13 because I have the RR10 going now and that is a great product for the price. You have what I consider to be somewhat expensive bourbons. I would for sure grab Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and Blanton's whenever I see them at retail.
I'm looking forward to getting a Widow Jane Decadence this year. I started my Bourbon journey too late last year and was not able to get one. Great Video. 🎉🎉
Agree with your picks! I had a chance to buy the Shenk's and Bomberger's for $150 ea. I passed. I suffer from High bourbon price fatigue. I would have payed $120 ea though
Have you guys had the Nulu experimental maple syrup finish? It’s delicious! Total wine down here in KY had a single barrel pick of it and I went through it pretty quickly.
Great picks...will keep an eye out for them. The only "allocated" item I have is Jameson's Crested...and you can only get that gem in Ireland. Hoping to get back out there to grab a couple more of those beauties!!! Cheers!
